The Red Sea Film Festival 2023 witnessed the world premiere of the Pakistani feature film “Wakhri: One of a Kind,” inspired by the life of Qandeel Baloch. The film, exploring the tragic consequences of honor killing, drew global attention with its cast and creators taking center stage.
Director Iram Parveen Bilal praised lead actor Faryal Mehmood for delivering a poignant performance as the influencer protagonist. Bilal expressed, “In modern Pakistan and the industry, no one could have played this better than Faryal Mehmood.”
Highlighting Mehmood’s suitability for the role, Bilal pointed to the actor’s real-life experiences with online vitriol. “She had faced a lot of social media trolling in the industry and outside,” the director remarked. Bilal recounted discovering Mehmood through an Instagram algorithm, emphasizing fate’s role in bringing the actor to her attention.
Red Sea Film Fest Head of International Programming, Kaleem Aftab, previewed the film’s significance, stating, “Wakhri: One of a Kind is changing the narrative on an incident that happened in Pakistan.” Aftab also highlighted another Pakistani entry, Zarrar Kahn’s non-conventional horror film “In Flames,” as the country’s international Oscar contender, showcasing a diverse range of storytelling from the region.
